Air-operated wire and tube marking machine



1961 L. A. KINGSLEY AIR-OPERATED WIRE AND TUBE MARKING MACHINE Filed Aug. 25, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 2.

5 a 5 N e w r n 1961 L. A. KINGSLEY 2,996,000

AIR-OPERATED WIRE AND TUBE MARKING MACHINE Filed Aug. 25, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR. LEM/5 A E/A/GSZEQ QTTOP/VEVS' United States Patent 2,996,000 AIR-OPERATED WIRE AND TUBE MARKING MACHINE Lewis A. Kingsley, Beverly Hills, Calif. Kingsley Stamping Machine Co., 850 Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood 28, Calif.)

Filed Aug. 25, 1958, Ser. No. 756,814 7 Claims. (Cl.'10111) This invention relates to an improved hot stamping machine of the air operated type for marking wire, tubing and the like.

Most materials require a single stamping to impress the desired indicia thereon, however certain difiiculties to mark materials create a problem. In a hot stamping operation this cannot be solved by holding the type in contact for an increased period of time since the prolonged heating adversely aifects the material. It therefore becomes desirable to over or double print the indicia.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a stamping machine which may stamp the same indicia more than once on a material.

It is a further object of this invention to accomplish this multiple marking without interrupting the feeding of the material through the machine.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a machine with a minimum of alteration of existing stamping machines.

Other objects and advantages will be readily apparent from the following description:

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a machine embodying the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatic view of the air control system.

FIGURE 3 is a front elevation of the machine.

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the air control cam.

FIGURE 5 is a view taken along line 5-5 of FIG- URE 3.

FIGURE 6 is a cam sequence diagram.

This present machine is essentially an air operated stamping machine of the type illustrated and described in my co-pending application Serial No. 661,801 filed May 27, 1957, now Patent Number 2,960,024, and entitled Air Operated Stamping Machine, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein and made a part hereof. This machine is modified by adding thereto the spacing and feeding mechanism illustrated and described in Patent No. 2,517,493 issued August 1, 1950 to me, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein and made a part hereof.

The machine as illustrated embodies a work-holding fixture of the type described in Patent No. 2,725,817 issued December 6, 1955 to me, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein and made a part hereof.

Only so much of the machine will be described as is necessary for an understanding of the operation of the present invention and for other details of construction and operation the above identified patents and application may be consulted.

Referring first to FIGURES 1 and 3, a motor 10 drives a shaft 12 upon which control cam 14 is affixed. Cam 14 is substituted for crank wheel 37 of Patent No. 2,517,493 and upon rotation reciprocates crank arm 16 and push rod 18 in guide 20 which operates Walking beam 21 about fulcrum 22. The position of fulcrum 22 may be adjusted as described in said patent. Rocking of said walking beam through pin 24 pivots gear segments 26 which through a ratchet and pawl mechanism 28 drives feeder wheel 30 to feed wire 32 or the like through the machine. The rocking of walking beam 21 and one-way Patented Aug. 15, 1961 drive mechanism 28 permits driving of wheel 30 during one-half the rotation of cam 14 while same is stationary during the remaining one-half rotation of the cam.

During the period when wheel 30 is stationary, air is supplied to cylinder 34 which, as more fully described in my co-pending application Serial No. 661,801, urges operating bar 36 downwardly. The bar 36 carries type head 38 into contact with foil 40 and then into contact with wire 32 stamping the desired indicia thereon. The stamping operation as well as the foil-feeding mechanism and air supply to cylinder 34 are more fully described in said co-pending application.

In this invention compressed air is supplied through tube 42 through solenoid valve 44 to cylinder 34. When the solenoid is energized, the valve element 46 is raised communicating tube 42 through the solenoid valve and tube 48 to the cylinder 34. When the solenoid is deenergized, spring 50 urges element 46 to block off inlet tube 42 and communicate tube 48 with discharge tube 52 to exhaust air from cylinder 34 during the upward stroke of operating bar 36 under urging of springs 54.

The energizing of solenoid valve 44 is controlled by switch 56 through a suitable electric circuit. Switch 56 in turn is controlled by arm 58 which carries a cam follower '60 and which is urged into contact with cam 14 by a suitable spring within switch '56.

FIGURE 6 illustrates the conformation of cam 14. 180 of the cam indicated 62 is of such a diameter that switch 56 is not closed during contact of the cam follower therewith as seen in FIGURE 2. At the extremity of area 62 of cam 14 a raised area 64 is provided. When cam follower 60 engages area 64 the switch 56 closes and air is delivered to cylinder 34 lowering the stamping head and stamping on the wire. The stamping head remains lowered until follower 60 reaches the end of area 64 as at 66 and the cam radius returns to that of area 62 whereby switch 56 is opened. A plurality of raised areas 64 may be provided on cam 14 on the 180 are opposite are 62 to permit more than one stamping on the same spot on the wire. In some instances maintaining the hot stamping head in contact with the wire for a full 180 turn of cam 14 would adversely affect the insulation and in order to provide a legible stamping two or even more briefer stampings are required. A removable insert 68 may be inserted in the depression between raised areas by screws 70 to permit forming one con tinuous switch closing are on the side of the 0am opposite are 62 to adapt this machine for various types of marking operations.

While what hereinbefore has been described as the preferred embodiment of this invention, it is readily apparent that alterations and modifications may be resorted to without departing from the scope of this invention and such alterations and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A hot stamping machine for temperature sensitive material comprising an air-operated reciprocating hot stamping mechanism, an intermittently operated material feeding mechanism, means responsive to the position of said feeding mechanism controlling flow of air to said stamping mechanism to reciprocate said stamping mechanism, and control means for said reciprocating means to effect repeated contact with said material in the same area for intervals insufiicient to detrimentally affect said material.

2. A hot stamping machine for temperature sensitive material comprising an air-operated reciprocating hot stamping mechanism, an intermittently driven material feeding mechanism, a rotating cam operating said feed mechanism, means actuated by said cam to control flow of an to said stamping mechanism, thereby to cause said stamping mechanism to engage said workpiece, said rotating cam being constructed and arranged to eflect at least two reciprocations of said stamping mechanism for repeated contact in the same area of said material, at intervals insufiicient to cause heat-damage to said material.

3. A hot stamping machine for temperature sensitive material comprising an air-operated reciprocating hot stamping mechanism, an intermittently driven material feeding mechanism, a rotating cam operating said feed mechanism, means including an electrically-operated valve and a switch to supply air under pressure to said stamping mechanism, which on closing of said switch permits flow of air to said stamping mechanism, raised areas on said cam, means responsive to said raised areas closing said switch at least twice during the period in which said feeding mechanism is stationary, to cause repeated engagement of said material by said stamping mechanism for intervals insufiicient to cause heat-damage to said material.

4. A hot stamping machine for temperature sensitive material comprising an air-operated reciprocating hot stamping mechanism, an intermittently driven material feeding mechanism, a rotating cam operating said feed mechanism, means including an electrically-operated valve and a switch to supply air under pressure to said stamping mechanism, which on closing of said switch permits flow of air to said stamping mechanism, a cam follower on said switch engaging said cam, said cam having an area contacting said follower during feeding of material by said feeding mechanism, at least two raised areas upon said cam which when contacted by said follower close said switch operating said stamping mechanism, to cause repeated engagement to said material by said stamping mechanism for intervals insufiicient to cause heat-damage to said material.

5. A hot stamping machine for temperature sensitive material comprising an air-operated reciprocating hot stamping mechanism, an intermittently driven material feeding mechanism, a rotating cam operating said feed mechanism, means including an electrically-operated valve and a switch to supply air under pressure to said stamping mechanism, which on closing of said switch permits flow of air to said stamping mechanism, a cam follower on said switch engaging said cam, said cam having an area contacting said follower during feeding of material by said feeding mechanism, at least two raised areas upon said cam which when contacted by said follower close said switch operating said stamping mechanism, to cause repeated engagement of said material by said stamping mechanism for intervals insufiicient to 4 cause heat-damage to said material and at least one insert removably fixed between adjacent raised portions, to reduce the number of reciprocations of said stamping mechanism.

6. A machine for hot stamping a foil-coated impression on a temperature sensitive workpiece, comprising: a heated stamping head; means for positioning a workpiece for engagement by said stamping head; means for interposing a foil element between said stamping head and workpiece; means for moving said stamping head to and from said workpiece; and control means for said moving means to effect an initial reciprocation of said stamping head to efiect a preliminary impression on said workpiece and a preliminary application of said foil element, said control means being subsequently operable to efiect a final impression of said stamping head on said workpiece and bonding of said foil element to said impression.

7. A machine for hot stamping a series of impressions on a temperature sensitive workpiece, comprising: a heated stamping head; means for periodically advancing a workpiece past said stamping head for periodic engagement thereby; means for moving said stamping head to and from said workpiece; and control means for said moving means to effect an initial reciprocation of said stamping head to effect a preliminary impression on said workpiece and a preliminary application of said foil element, said control means being subsequently operable to eifect a final impression of said stamping head on said workpiece and bonding of said foil element to said impression, said control means being operable between operations of said advancing means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 129,176 Savage July 16, 1872 476,135 Eisenhart May 31, 1892 1,258,944 Putnam Mar. 12, 1918 1,904,254 Scranton Apr. 18, 1933 1,935,194 Wilsey Nov. 14, 1933 2,047,373 Kingsley July 14, 1936 2,080,519 Vogelgesang et a1 May 18, 1937 2,139,719 Breitling et a1. Dec. 13, 1938 2,383,947 Wensel et al. Sept. 4, 1945 2,621,435 Weber Dec. 16, 1952 2,684,027 Kerchner July 20, 1954 2,706,354 Weber Apr. 19, 1955 2,731,750 Adams et a1. Jan. 24, 1956 2,748,695 Whitecar June 5, 1956 

